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Brian Sims

Philly lawmaker flips Pence the bird, stirring controversy ...

Brian SimsMember of the from the districtAssumed office December 1, 2012Preceded byPersonal detailsBornBrian Kendall Sims September 16, 1978 , U.S.Political partyEducation () ()Brian Kendall Sims (born September 16, 1978) is a member of the in the 182nd district. Elected in 2012, Sims is also a lawyer and activist on . Sims is the first openly gay elected state legislator in Pennsylvania history. He won reelection on November 6, 2018.

Contents Early life and education[] Sims was born in , the son of two Army Lieutenant Colonels of Irish descent. Sims was raised in the but stopped attending church at the age of 16. Sims lived in seventeen states before settling in in the early 1990s. He later completed his undergraduate studies at , in in 2001. In 2000, Sims was the co-captain of the Bloomsburg University football team, and was recognized as a scholar athlete. During the 2000 season, the longest season in the school's history, Sims as gay to his teammates. In doing so, the regional All-American and team captain became the only openly gay college football captain in history.

In 2004, Sims earned a Degree in International and at the .

Activism[] Sims served as the President of , and as the Chairman of the Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of (GALLOP), until he stepped down from both positions in 2011. In 2009, Sims joined the faculty of the and the National Campaign Board of the . He was selected as one of the Top 40 LGBT Attorneys Under 40 in the United States by the in 2010.

Planned Parenthood confrontation[] Sims received attention in 2019 for videos he posted to social media confronting people protesting outside of a facility in Philadelphia. In April of that year, Sims offered $100 to anyone who could three teenage girls who were protesting by praying outside the facility. A few weeks later, in May, Sims posted another eight-minute video of himself confronting a woman who was protesting by praying with a outside the same facility. He suggested it was unchristian and racist to "shame" people engaging in a lawful activity. He encouraged his social media followers to dox her and protest outside her house. Sims also criticized Catholicism by referring to its record on child molestation.

Following the incidents, more than one thousand abortion rights opponents rallied outside the facility, with many calling for Sims' resignation. He responded to calls for an apology or that he resign by calling critics bigoted, sexist, and misogynistic "Bible Bullies". Sims admitted to being "aggressive" in his confrontation.

Career[] Before assuming public office, Sims served as staff counsel for policy and planning at the Philadelphia Bar Association. During his time at the Bar Association, Sims worked with attorneys, legislators and community organizations on issues ranging from gender and pay inequity to environmental regulation.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives[] In 2011, Sims announced his intentions to run for representative of the 182nd Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Sims defeated , a 28-year incumbent, in the 2012 Democratic primary. He did not face a Republican challenger in the November general election and was elected.

Sims was the first openly gay person elected to the . Although he was not sworn in until January 1, 2013, because Pennsylvania state representatives' term of service and legislative duties officially begin on the first day of December following their election, Sims shares the designation of being its first openly gay member with Rep. (R–), who came out in a newspaper article published later that day.

In June 2013, after the had been ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, Sims tried to make a speech in the Pennsylvania House supporting the decision, but was blocked by , among others, who called Sims' comments "open rebellion against God’s law."

Sims made national news on October 3, 2013, when he and fellow Democratic Rep. introduced legislation to legalize in Pennsylvania. Sims has also introduced a bill with fellow Democratic State Representative to help reduce and eliminate the gender gap in rate of pay as well as legislation to ban the practice of with Rep. .

Sims has also made efforts to work with federal legislators on issues of civil rights. On March 28, 2013, Sims penned an open letter to U.S. Senator and fellow Pennsylvania Democrat urging him to come out publicly in support of same-sex marriage. This, combined with many other calls, ultimately resulted in the senator voicing his support for the measure. Senator (R-PA) also chose to vote for the (ENDA) in the after Sims and a number of other activists wrote to him on the matter.

On November 11, 2013, Sims teamed with Republican State Representative to introduce a bill to replace Pennsylvania's system of electing judges with a merit-based system, which did not receive debate in the PA House.

Sims currently serves of the House Commerce, Game and Fish, Human Services, State Government, and Tourism and Recreation Committees. Sims serves as Democratic Chair of the Human Services Subcommittee on Mental Health.

Sims has served as the prime sponsor of 68 bills or resolutions, of these, one bill has progressed to be debated on the house floor, and nine resolutions have been passed.

After tweeted a cartoon portraying Trump and Putin as a gay couple, Sims said it's time to stop the jokes.

Congressional run[] In the 2016 elections, Sims was briefly a candidate for , but opted to run for re-election to the instead. Sims was challenged by Lou Lanni, Marni Snyder, and Ben Waxman in the Democratic primary, defeating all three. Sims did not face a Republican challenger in the November 2016 general election.

See also[] References[] External links[] Members of the [//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1]Retrieved from "": Hidden categories: Politician Brian Sims Is in Love, and His Constituents Know It Close Committee Members Legislator Party Role Ok Brian Sims and Today's Political Fanaticism | National Review

Brian SimsMember of the from the districtAssumed office December 1, 2012Preceded byPersonal detailsBornBrian Kendall Sims September 16, 1978 , U.S.Political partyEducation () ()Brian Kendall Sims (born September 16, 1978) is a member of the in the 182nd district. Elected in 2012, Sims is also a lawyer and activist on . Sims is the first openly gay elected state legislator in Pennsylvania history. He won reelection on November 6, 2018.

Contents Early life and education[] Sims was born in , the son of two Army Lieutenant Colonels of Irish descent. Sims was raised in the but stopped attending church at the age of 16. Sims lived in seventeen states before settling in in the early 1990s. He later completed his undergraduate studies at , in in 2001. In 2000, Sims was the co-captain of the Bloomsburg University football team, and was recognized as a scholar athlete. During the 2000 season, the longest season in the school's history, Sims as gay to his teammates. In doing so, the regional All-American and team captain became the only openly gay college football captain in history.

In 2004, Sims earned a Degree in International and at the .

Activism[] Sims served as the President of , and as the Chairman of the Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of (GALLOP), until he stepped down from both positions in 2011. In 2009, Sims joined the faculty of the and the National Campaign Board of the . He was selected as one of the Top 40 LGBT Attorneys Under 40 in the United States by the in 2010.

Planned Parenthood confrontation[] Sims received attention in 2019 for videos he posted to social media confronting people protesting outside of a facility in Philadelphia. In April of that year, Sims offered $100 to anyone who could three teenage girls who were protesting by praying outside the facility. A few weeks later, in May, Sims posted another eight-minute video of himself confronting a woman who was protesting by praying with a outside the same facility. He suggested it was unchristian and racist to "shame" people engaging in a lawful activity. He encouraged his social media followers to dox her and protest outside her house. Sims also criticized Catholicism by referring to its record on child molestation.

Following the incidents, more than one thousand abortion rights opponents rallied outside the facility, with many calling for Sims' resignation. He responded to calls for an apology or that he resign by calling critics bigoted, sexist, and misogynistic "Bible Bullies". Sims admitted to being "aggressive" in his confrontation.

Career[] Before assuming public office, Sims served as staff counsel for policy and planning at the Philadelphia Bar Association. During his time at the Bar Association, Sims worked with attorneys, legislators and community organizations on issues ranging from gender and pay inequity to environmental regulation.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives[] In 2011, Sims announced his intentions to run for representative of the 182nd Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Sims defeated , a 28-year incumbent, in the 2012 Democratic primary. He did not face a Republican challenger in the November general election and was elected.

Sims was the first openly gay person elected to the . Although he was not sworn in until January 1, 2013, because Pennsylvania state representatives' term of service and legislative duties officially begin on the first day of December following their election, Sims shares the designation of being its first openly gay member with Rep. (R–), who came out in a newspaper article published later that day.

In June 2013, after the had been ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, Sims tried to make a speech in the Pennsylvania House supporting the decision, but was blocked by , among others, who called Sims' comments "open rebellion against God’s law."

Sims made national news on October 3, 2013, when he and fellow Democratic Rep. introduced legislation to legalize in Pennsylvania. Sims has also introduced a bill with fellow Democratic State Representative to help reduce and eliminate the gender gap in rate of pay as well as legislation to ban the practice of with Rep. .

Sims has also made efforts to work with federal legislators on issues of civil rights. On March 28, 2013, Sims penned an open letter to U.S. Senator and fellow Pennsylvania Democrat urging him to come out publicly in support of same-sex marriage. This, combined with many other calls, ultimately resulted in the senator voicing his support for the measure. Senator (R-PA) also chose to vote for the (ENDA) in the after Sims and a number of other activists wrote to him on the matter.

On November 11, 2013, Sims teamed with Republican State Representative to introduce a bill to replace Pennsylvania's system of electing judges with a merit-based system, which did not receive debate in the PA House.

Sims currently serves of the House Commerce, Game and Fish, Human Services, State Government, and Tourism and Recreation Committees. Sims serves as Democratic Chair of the Human Services Subcommittee on Mental Health.

Sims has served as the prime sponsor of 68 bills or resolutions, of these, one bill has progressed to be debated on the house floor, and nine resolutions have been passed.

After tweeted a cartoon portraying Trump and Putin as a gay couple, Sims said it's time to stop the jokes.

Congressional run[] In the 2016 elections, Sims was briefly a candidate for , but opted to run for re-election to the instead. Sims was challenged by Lou Lanni, Marni Snyder, and Ben Waxman in the Democratic primary, defeating all three. Sims did not face a Republican challenger in the November 2016 general election.

See also[] References[] External links[] Members of the [//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1]Retrieved from "": Hidden categories:

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